Invenergy announces Phase I Grain Belt Express contracts
Invenergy announced May 7 that the Grain Belt Express, the largest electric transmission project in the United States, was awarding nearly $1.7 billion in combined U.S. contractor awards to Quanta Services, a leader in specialized infrastructure solutions for the energy industry, and Kiewit Energy Group Inc., one of America’s leading engineering, construction and procurement companies.
Michael Polsky, founder and CEO of Invenergy, joined Fox Business anchor Maria Bartiromo on Mornings with Maria, to announce the $1.7 billion supply chain agreement and discuss the transmission project’s role in securing American energy independence. Grain Belt Express, an Invenergy project, is an 800-mile transmission line using state-of-the-art high-voltage direct current technology.
It spans four states—Kansas, Missouri, Illinois, and Indiana—that have all approved the line. The open-access transmission line will add 5,000 megawatts of U.S. energy delivery capacity. Invenergy claims that the Grain Belt Express will provide $52 billion in energy cost savings to Americans over 15 years.
Legal challenges
The Grain Belt Express has been resisted by a remaining handful of property owners in Missouri who have not accepted buyout offers and they are supported by U.S. Sen. Josh Hawley (R-MO). As recently as March 25, Hawley wrote to Energy Secretary Chris Wright asking him to cancel a Biden-era $4.9 billion loan for the Grain Belt Express transmission line.
In a statement, Hawley’s office said, “The Biden administration pushed the nearly $5 billion loan through at the eleventh hour, allowing the government to seize land from Missouri’s farmers and ranchers.”
Invenergy’s announcement indicates confidence there are no more serious barriers to the project in Missouri. In Illinois, however, the project could still face significant legal challenges. The Illinois Supreme Court has yet to hear a challenge to the project brought by the Illinois Agricultural Association and assorted landowners. They have opposed the GBX project through legal filings and appeals, arguing that the 2021 law facilitating the project’s approval amounts to unconstitutional “special legislation” favoring a private entity. In August 2024, the Illinois Fifth District Appellate Court’s reversed the Illinois Commerce Commission’s approval of the project.
Grain Belt Express Phase 1, which connects Kansas and Missouri, is seeking to start construction in 2026. Invenergy says this phase of the project will create as estimated 4,000 jobs.
“We’re pleased to partner with Quanta and Kiewit as we build the biggest transmission line in U.S. history. Grain Belt Express is a transformative project that delivers jobs and deepens America’s energy supply chain capabilities in innovative transmission technology,” Polsky said. “Interregional transmission is key to unleashing American energy dominance to power our nation’s businesses and strengthen our national security.”
Quanta Services and Kiewit have strong local presences and expect to source raw materials locally in Kansas and Missouri when possible, including concrete, aggregate, civil materials, conduit, and piping. Main construction, engineering, and procurement offices for Grain Belt Express Phase 1 will be based out of Overland Park and Lenexa, Kansas.
“Grain Belt Express is an important project that supports the country’s energy dominance priority, manufacturing reshoring, mission to lead the world in artificial intelligence and secure our grid,” Polsky said.
“The entire Quanta team, including those at our Infrastructure Solutions Group in Kansas City, is ready and looks forward to helping modernize our electric infrastructure and bring much-needed relief to energy consumers across the Midwest,” said Duke Austin, president and CEO of Quanta Services.
“We’re very pleased to be an integral part of the Grain Belt Express project, which is focused on delivering a significant transmission project that will help ensure reliable, secure power in the United States,” said Chad Jessen, executive vice president, Kiewit Energy Group Inc. “Our extensive EPC experience with complex power delivery projects suits us well, especially using this HVDC technology to connect grid regions to help reliably meet growing energy demand.”
“This announcement shows once again how much Missouri can contribute to big infrastructure projects like this transmission line, which will help bring energy savings and reliability to 39 municipal utilities across the state. It’s great to see Grain Belt Express continuing to invest in Missouri and support our workers, especially after their recent agreements with Hubbell Power Systems in Centralia and the Missouri Public Utility Alliance,” said Missouri Speaker of the House Jon Patterson.
“Grain Belt Express is a multi-billion-dollar investment in Kansas and an essential American infrastructure project. The selection of contractors and suppliers with a local presence is just one of the many sizable economic benefits Grain Belt Express brings, in addition to greater energy cost savings and reliability,” said Kansas Senate President Ty Masterson.
“Kansans working to balance household budgets and run businesses want energy that’s affordable and reliable, and that’s what we are getting with Grain Belt Express, all without ratepayers being forced to pay for it. I look forward to seeing the positive impact of the thousands of jobs and billions in investment that this project will bring to Kansas,” said Kansas Speaker of the House Daniel Hawkins.
The selection of Quanta and Kiewit adds to domestic energy supply chain investments and commercial commitments for Grain Belt Express Phase 1 as project execution advances toward construction. The agreement supports a 50,000-square-foot factory expansion nearing completion in Williamsport, Pennsylvania, that is set to double U.S. manufacturing capacity for certain advanced transmission conductors using U.S. aluminum.
Learn more at https://grainbeltexpress.com/.
David Murray can be reached at [email protected].
